I'm a professional showjumper - AMA

How many people in your situation come from poor or very modest backgrounds? Is it possible to become a showjumper with no financial support throughout the process? This isn’t having a dog - we have a brilliant teen horsewoman in our family but there is no money.

How many people in your situation come from poor or very modest backgrounds? Is it possible to become a showjumper with no financial support throughout the process?

If you are using "poor" to describe a stereotypical council house, NWM - type family, I would say unfortunately very few and far between. I personally do not know any & I know of only one or two.Obviously it isn't impossible but I would say it's improbable for individuals to make it to a even a relatively decent level with no financial support.

It's incredibly unfair.

To your very keen teen, I would absolutely encourage her to gain her teaching qualifications through BHS & not to quit her education - I have a degree to fall back on in case of injury etc best of luck to her x

I ask because we've sponsored people in the past but have, on the whole, found their appetite for the work needed to be somewhat limited. We weren't at international level though so maybe that makes a difference.

The horses are loaded into horse container stables so they have lots of room & are comfortable during the flight. One of my grooms will usually travel alongside them to keep them calm and hydrated. There is always a vet with them too, just in case.

The horses never seem to mind it. Only once has one of mine panicked & needed sedative. It was a horrible situation but he was absolutely fine.

What do you think about the controversy over Oliver Townend using his whip too much at Badminton cross country in May?

I have only been lucky enough to meet Zara a few times as she is an eventer and we tend to mix in different circles. Saying that, when I have met her, she has been nothing but friendly (and Mia is gorgeous too 😍).

I would like to believe that Oliver was ignorant to how much he was using his whip and if he realised what he was doing, he would have ridden differently. I personally would not ride my horses like that and would not condone what he did in any way.

I ask because we've sponsored people in the past but have, on the whole, found their appetite for the work needed to be somewhat limited. We weren't at international level though so maybe that makes a difference.

Great question

As a child, it was family money (which wasn't much compared to some families!). I'd be lying if I said that my family haven't helped me out over the years - it would have been impossible without them to start.

I received my first sponsor aged 11 - I still have that sponsor today alongside quite a few more!

Although not the most proactive approach, my sponsors have all come to me. It is really sad that businesses will invest time and money and not see anything from their investment. I would definitely keep an eye out, at shows, in H&H, even on Facebook forums, for individuals that seem to be doing well and maybe ask to visit their yards before sponsoring. Good luck!

Are you a Whittaker or a Skelton? Or related to the Edgars? Honestly, for those who don't have a family background, how difficult is it to get up to elite level? Tell me John Whittaker (whom I idolised as a preteen - good old Ryan's Son) is less taciturn as he comes across. He does tend to embody Yorkshire monolsylabic grit.

Could you ride a full up xc course if you had to? And what would you say a horse needs to be a showjumper as opposed to an eventer? (we always have horses that are great xc but sj is our weakest phase by far)

How old were you when you could ride properly (off the lead rein) and how old were you when you first jumped?

Do you own the horses you ride or do you get approached to ride other people's?

When you walk a course is there anything that would scare you?

I genuinely have no idea when I was off the lead rein - I will ask Mum later! I'm guessing around 2-3 for both.

It's about a 50:50 split. I do have my own, some co-owned with various family members/business partners then I will ride on behalf of owners too.

There isn't much that would scare me personally but I will always walk the course thinking of the horse I'm riding. For example, if I'm at a particularly big show, one of my younger horses will spook at crowds so I will try & plan for the best route for him